Ji Cheng was naturally beautiful, her smile as radiant as fresh pomegranate blossoms against snow, like the clear sky after a snowfall, refreshing and delightful. Yet, at this moment, Shen Che found her smile piercingly painful to behold.
Ji Cheng glanced up and saw Shen Che. Remembering how he had scolded Shen Qian for her sake, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart and gave him a bright, cheerful smile.
Shen Che finally understood Ji Cheng’s attitude towards him. Her smile, though bright, lacked sincerity, much like a shopkeeper smiling at a valued customer, with a hint of flattery, as if afraid he wouldn’t buy her wares.
Of course, Ji Cheng wasn’t selling anything, so what was she afraid of that she needed to please him?
Shen Che suddenly recalled the day they reconciled. At the time, he hadn’t realized it, but looking back, Ji Cheng’s actions could only be described as cautious and strategic.
Although Ji Cheng had proposed the divorce, her subsequent actions clearly showed it wasn’t her true intention. It was merely a strategic retreat, fearing he would be the one to initiate the divorce. Did she believe he would divorce her just because her brother was in trouble?
Ji Cheng knew what awaited her if she were divorced, so look at what she did next. She behaved differently from her usual self, humbly pouring out her heart to him. When he remained unmoved, what did she do next?
She even resorted to seduction!
In that regard, Ji Cheng had always been reserved and shy, likely because of the incident at Sanhao Residence where he hurt her. Since then, she had always been somewhat averse to such matters. Even now, except for that night in the main courtyard, she had never initiated intimacy with him, remaining shy and reserved.
Only that one night did Ji Cheng act contrary to her nature, taking the initiative, fearing he would truly not return.
But Ji Cheng’s fear of him not returning wasn’t about love; it was about not wanting to lose her status and the protection of the Shen family.
So after reconciling, she simply played the role of the virtuous and magnanimous wife of the heir to the Duke of Qi, dismissing grievances with a smile, not bothering to discuss them with him, her husband.
When the daughter married on the third day and returned to her parental home, he didn’t accompany her like other men, and she didn’t express any grievance. On the Lantern Festival, a day meant for lovers to stroll by the river and watch performances, he didn’t accompany her, and she only made a small fuss, just for show.
Shen Che was indeed too busy to break away, but he also wanted to test Ji Cheng’s feelings. The results of the test were not satisfactory.
The warmth and coldness between a couple are known only to themselves. Ji Cheng might think she was doing well, but Shen Che didn’t feel her closeness. She still wore a mask of “everything is fine,” not rejecting his closeness, but not cherishing it either.
From beginning to end, what Ji Cheng sought and held onto wasn’t him as a person, but his surname, Shen. He had long understood her nature but couldn’t help believing her words.
Shen Che knew Ji Cheng wasn’t wrong in her actions; the fault lay in his high expectations. He wanted more than just a virtuous wife.
The more virtuous Ji Cheng was, the more restless Shen Che felt.
For instance, when Ji Cheng saw Shen Che standing still, unsure of his intentions, she smiled at him again, and Shen Che’s brows immediately furrowed.
Cui Ling and Feng Shuang also noticed Shen Che at this time, along with the undisguised coldness and hostility emanating from him.
Ji Cheng, unsure of how she had offended Shen Che again, stood up with slight apprehension.
“Ah Cheng, I have something to say to you,” Shen Che said coldly, turning to leave.
Ji Cheng, puzzled, smiled apologetically at Cui Ling and Feng Shuang before following Shen Che.
Feng Shuang watched their retreating figures for a long time, then sighed deeply and said to Cui Ling, “Second Sister-in-law has it tough.” She was worried, not knowing what Shen Che would say to Ji Cheng, given his unpleasant demeanor.
Cui Ling smiled and sighed as well, “What woman in this world has it easy?” With Chu’s flirtatious nature, it was no wonder Cui Ling would say such a thing.
Ji Cheng followed Shen Che back to their room, pondering why he was angry. The only thing she could think of was that she hadn’t been able to persuade Shen Qian and his wife to stay when they left in the morning.
They had all agreed to come to the villa for a hot spring bath, and now that Shen Qian had left early, it was no wonder Shen Che was displeased. Since Shen Qian had already apologized to her, she should have tried harder to persuade them to stay. Ji Cheng felt somewhat regretful for not being more attentive at the time.
Thinking of this, Ji Cheng said to Shen Che, whose face was dark, “Are you upset because I couldn’t keep Ah Qian and the others from leaving?”
Shen Che retorted sarcastically, “You’re so virtuous that you didn’t even mind when Ah Qian slapped you in front of everyone. Why would I be upset about you not keeping her?”
Why did that sound so awkward? Ji Cheng couldn’t quite grasp Shen Che’s meaning.
“Rest assured, even if you’re not so virtuous, do you think I would divorce you?” Shen Che said.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ji Cheng asked cautiously, puzzled by Shen Che’s sarcastic tone. Was it just because Shen Qian was unhappy?
Shen Che didn’t speak, calming himself slightly. He knew such words were not conducive to their communication, so he suppressed his anger and said, “Is there nothing you want to say to me about what happened yesterday?”
Ji Cheng thought seriously and said, “I didn’t take yesterday’s events to heart. Besides, Ah Qian already apologized this morning. I don’t blame her.” Seeing Shen Che’s expression worsen, Ji Cheng quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand, there’s nothing between Chu Zhen and me. It was just that I was closer to him at the time, and the tree roots were exposed, so he had no choice but to save me first.”
The more Shen Che listened, the colder he felt. How little trust did Ji Cheng have in him to say something that stabbed at his heart?
“Do I seem so untrustworthy to you, Ah Cheng?” Shen Che asked with a bitter smile. “I haven’t even spoken, and you’ve already decided I wouldn’t stand by you, that I’d side with Ah Qian to blame you?”
Ji Cheng was stunned, unable to find words. She was smart and quickly realized she had misunderstood. But it wasn’t entirely her fault; she knew how much Shen Che doted on his sister. She never expected to surpass Shen Qian in his heart, so even if Shen Che sided with Shen Qian, she found it understandable.
Hearing Shen Che’s words now, she felt a sense of being unexpectedly favored.
“Sorry, I…” Ji Cheng began, but Shen Che interrupted.
“You don’t need to apologize to me. It’s my fault for indulging Ah Qian too much and making her so disrespectful. I’ve already told her that if she doesn’t respect you as her Second Sister-in-law, she doesn’t need to acknowledge me as her brother,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng didn’t expect Shen Che to say such things and was at a loss for words. Shen Che’s emotions were off, and she feared saying more would lead to more mistakes, so she remained silent.
“Do you have anything you want to say to me now?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng dryly said, “Thank you.”
“I never wanted your thanks,” Shen Che said heavily. “Have you ever truly considered me your husband?”
Ji Cheng opened her mouth to answer, but Shen Che continued, “Of course you have, but you married me not for who I am, but for my status. As long as you’re the young mistress of the Duke of Qi’s household, it doesn’t matter who your husband is, right?”
Of course not! Ji Cheng couldn’t understand the source of Shen Che’s anger. “You…”
“Don’t rush to deny it,” Shen Che said. “Why didn’t you mention the grievances you suffered to me? Because you see me as an outsider, you didn’t expect me to protect you. You compromised and endured for what? Afraid you wouldn’t remain the young mistress of the Shen family for long?”
Ji Cheng furrowed her brows, unable to find a chance to interject, and Shen Che continued, “You’ve never trusted me or cherished me. That night, you even sacrificed your dignity. I thought you truly had feelings for me, but now I see I was too naive. If you truly had feelings for me, how could you be so indifferent?”
“What indifference?” Ji Cheng asked, confused.
Shen Che laughed sarcastically, “Look at Ah Qian, who was so angry that she forgot her manners just because Zhen Chang saved you first. Li Rui, too, made a fuss over a simple ‘Cheng Sister.’ And you, back in Western Turkestan, when I followed Zai Na, you didn’t mind and treated me as usual. When I joked about taking a concubine, you joked back without a hint of jealousy. I stayed out all night, and you didn’t argue with me. Even on the Lantern Festival, when I didn’t accompany you, you only mentioned it briefly and let it go. Ah Cheng, if a woman truly cares for a man, can she be so indifferent?”
Ji Cheng was bewildered by Shen Che’s words. Was being magnanimous a mistake? “Are you blaming me for not making a fuss?”
“Yes,” Shen Che said. “I’d rather you argue, fuss, and act spoiled with me, at least letting me know you’re a person of flesh and blood, not just wearing a mask of virtue and magnanimity, but truly considering me your husband and holding me in your heart.”
Ji Cheng said, “I naturally hold you in my heart.” After all this, Ji Cheng realized Shen Che was indeed a strange person, blaming her for not quarreling with him.
Shen Che saw Ji Cheng’s expression and knew she hadn’t understood his meaning, or perhaps she did and was just playing dumb.
Shen Che said, “Is that so? Then let me ask you this: if Ling Ziyun’s status were swapped with mine, and I were in his place, would you choose to marry him or me?”